Files
Download Full Text (2.6 MB)
Contributing USMA Research Unit(s)
Behavioral Sciences and Leadership
Publication Date
11-16-2020
Publisher
Routledge Publishing
Document Type
Article
Description
The importance of leadership to organizational performance puts a premium on identifying future leaders. Early prediction of high-potential talent enables organizations to marshal scarce develop- mental resources and opportunities to those who are best positioned to show distinction in elevated roles. Much of the existing literature indicates that general mental ability remains the strongest predictor of future professional performance. Using data from 13 classes of West Point graduates who stayed in the Army to be considered for at least early promotion to the rank of major (N = 5,505), regression analyses indicate that cadet military grade point average surpasses both cognitive ability and academic performance by a considerable margin in the ability to predict future professional outcomes such as selection for early promotion or battalion command. Moreover, these differences in predicting managerial career outcomes endure over 16 years. Both practical and theoretical implications are discussed.
Publisher City
Washington, DC
Keywords
Talent Management, Gender and Military Performance, Military Careers, Human Resource Manaagement
Volume
32
Recommended Citation
Spain, E. S., Lin, E., & Young, L. V. (2020). Early predictors of successful military careers among West Point cadets. Military Psychology, 32(6), 389-407. https://doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2020.1801285
Included in
Leadership Studies Commons, Performance Management Commons, Training and Development Commons